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What tests are done to ensure my blood is safe for patients?

To ensure all patients receive the safest possible blood, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) screens and processes all donated blood before it is transfused to patients.

Blood component processingTo optimise blood usage and to benefit more patients, every bag of donated blood is processed into different components:

Red Blood Cells: used to treat severe anaemia or during surgery, childbirth

Platelets: used for dengue fever, leukaemia and cancer patients

Fresh Frozen Plasma: used to help manage blood clots during bleeding or infection.

Infectious diseases testingAll donated blood is screened for infectious diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis. Selected components or units may also be tested for malaria or bacterial contamination.

Blood group testingThis ensures that the donated blood is given to a patient with a compatible blood type.

Antibody screenThis is to ensure that there is no high level of abnormal antibodies in the donated blood that may be harmful to a patient following a transfusion.

Storage of blood productsAll blood products must be stored under carefully monitored and controlled temperatures and conditions. This ensures that they are in an optimal state when transfused to patients.

Is it safe to donate blood?

Blood donation is a safe procedure. Donors give about 8-12% of their circulating blood volume during each blood donation.

In general, blood donation, whether whole blood or apheresis, does not usually have significant adverse effects on a donor's health.

Healthy adults who meet the donation criteria should be able to donate safely and regularly.